Rules of Style from Stefano Pilati

Yves Saint Laurentís new head designer on why you should expose your calves, listen to more R&B, and remember to just say no to yellow sports cars.

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1. The biggest mistake you can make when dressing is to pretend youíre someone else. Proportions are everything. Donít wear jackets with big shoulders if your shoulders are small. Donít dress like a kid if you are old. Clothing should be a representation of a body, not a distortion of it. That said, I love women in menís clothing.

2. Calves are a devastatingly undervalued body part. They are so beautiful. Women, at least, can wear skirts. But we have to wear our pants long, long, long. Why?

3. Men have a need for comfort that will always get in the way of their style. We are not used to suffering. Women will put on makeup in 90-degree weather; they will wear shoes that destroy their feet. We simply wonít do that. If it hurts, we just wonít put it on.

4. I find R&B music very sensual. It teaches men and women how to communicate sexually—all of a sudden heís talking about his feelings and sheís talking about her feelings and then, well . . . itís taught me a lot.

5. I donít want to tell you that money will help you with women. I donít want to tell you that money will help you with anything. I guess Iíll just say that it allows for a lot.

6. The sleek nineties aesthetic made sense to a lot of men. The black leather furniture, the fur blankets—it was easy. Now we have to work a little harder. The important thing is just to keep trying.

7. Your hands are a part of your body that you always show people. They are a big part of the first impression that you make. Get a manicure; itís the respectful thing to do.

8. I donít honestly think that there is a man alive who looks good with long hair.

9. Cars are like muscles. Now that Iím 40, I feel like I am ready to buy a vintage Ferrari. Itís a good and sporty car, but itís also classy. I know there is ego involved, but itís not like itís totally vain. If I wanted a yellow Lamborghini, that would be different. That would be like having big muscles. Iíd feel like a piece of meat.